Effects of Ontogenetic and Diurnal Variability on Essential Oil Content in Mentha spicata L., Origanum onites L., Melissa officinalis L. and Lavandula angustifolia Mill.

• Main Authors: Gülen ÖZYAZICI, Kudret KEVSEROĞLU
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Siirt University 2019-10-01
• Series: Türkiye Tarımsal Araştırmalar Dergisi
• Subjects: harvesting stages; harvesting times; mint; oregano; lavander; lemon balm
• Online Access: https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/tutad/issue/48857/594468

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ontogenetic and diurnal variability on the essential oil content of some plants belonging to Labiatae family (Mentha spicata L., Origanum onites L., Melissa officinalis L. and Lavandula angustifolia Mill.). The study was conducted for two years at Bafra plain of Central Black Sea Region in Turkey. In this study, three different harvesting stages (before flowering, 50% flowering and 100% flowering) and harvesting times [morning (07.00, noon (13.30), evening (19.00)] are considered as research subjects. According to the results of the study, the essential oil content values of M. spicata, O. onites, L. angustifolia and M. officinalis plants varied between 0.83-1.75%, 1.50-2.67%, 0.25-1.33% and 0.13-0.50%, respectively; In M. spicata and M. officinalis, the highest value was measured at 50% flowering, while the highest values was measured at full flowering on other species. Harvesting stages significantly affected essential oil content in M. spicata and L. angustifolia (p<0.01), whereas the effects on O. onites and M. officinalis species were not significant. The effect of harvesting times on essential oil content was significant and /or very significant in all plants. According to results of the research, in terms of ontogenetic variability, it is recommended that M. spicata and M. officinalis plants should be harvested at 50% flowering period, and L. angustifolia and O. onites plants should be harvested at 100% flowering period. In terms of diurnal variability, it was suggested that harvests should be done at noon in M. spicata, morning in O. onites and M. officinalis, and evening in L. angustifolia.